Rosella Marie Nelson

Rosella Marie Nelson, 77, of Salem passed away Friday, February 16, 2024 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls.  She reached the age of 77 years, 11 months & 11 days.

Funeral services will begin at 10:30 am on Friday, February 23 at Center Free Lutheran Church, rural Salem.  Visitation with family present will be held from 5 – 7 pm on Thursday at Kinzley Funeral Home in Salem with a prayer service at 7 pm.  Burial will be held in the church cemetery.

Rosella Eggers was born on March 5, 1946 to Wilbert “John” and Elsie (Kobernusz) Eggers in Mitchell, SD.  She grew up in Spencer and graduated from Spencer High School and then worked for several years at McCook County National Bank.  Rosella married Richard Nelson on July 6, 1968 in Spencer and then stayed home to help Rich on the farm and to raise her family. She was very involved in the farm with field work, livestock, and raising sheep was her favorite job on the farm.   Rosella also worked at Colonial Manor in Salem for 18 years as a cook, until her retirement.  During this time Rosella took a short 13 month period off work where she helped take care of Kevin during his battle with cancer. She also fought cancer and had numerous health problems for the last 12 years.

Rosella was a member of Center Lutheran Church, where she served on the Ladies Aid.  She loved to read, was a great cook, and especially enjoyed her lambs; real ones that came in the spring and stuffed lambs that she collected. She was also an avid bowler for many years with her sister Linda and other friends.  Rosella was very active in her grandchildren’s lives with farm activities and especially loved watching their 4H shows and school activities. Her two grandchildren and great-grandson were the highlights of her life.  She was a very sociable person who enjoyed meeting and talking to various people.

She is survived by: her husband, Richard of Salem; son Brian (Laura) Nelson of Salem; grandchildren, Matt (Tara) Nelson and great-grandson Trig Nelson all of Arlington, Melissa Nelson of Salem; sister, Nancy Eggers of Spring Lake Park, MN; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Rosie was preceded in death by her parents, her son, Kevin, and siblings, Marna Dahmen, Lyle Eggers, Linda Hoenscheid and Frances Kniep.